HOLAAAAA, We are Isabel and Gina and today we got to be Leaders del Dia! Today was Education and Shadow day so we had the opportunity to shadow local high school students here in Esteli and also had a field trip to the Montessori Elementary school to do activities with the students there and observe how their way of learning is.

Gina here! The glimpsers had quite a busy day starting off with an early wake up call at 5:15 a.m. We then had until 6 to get ready for breakfast and our eventful day. For breakfast we got a break from the usual Gallo pinto and instead got (drum roll pleaaassseeeee) FROOT LOOOOPS well at least Nicaragua’s version of Froot Loops. Which was still very tasty and filling. Along with the cereal we also had toast with a side of jam. After our breakfast we headed straight to Wanda high school which interestingly also had a preschool inside it too. From there the glimpsers split up into two groups and headed to class. One group shadowed 7th graders and got to observe the students learning math and a language course. The other group got to observe chemistry. One observation that we made was the teachers go from classes to classes and not the students. Throughout the day the glimpsers were able to compare the differences and similarities between school in America and Nicaragua. We stayed in class for about an hour and a Half and then headed out with the students for lunch where we watched them play soccer.

After shadowing the students, we headed back to the hostal for lunch and prepared for English tutoring later in the day. We also had our first meeting for our CAP project, dividing into specific groups that let us bring out the skills that we have to be able to do the project together.

Onto my favorite part of the day when we went to Fabretto El Rosario which was the Montessori school that we visited. There we had the students read us the story of The Three Little Pigs and after played interactive learning games with us. The games were made up of recycled parts (for example bottle caps) and gave the students a source of creativity. Besides the games, the glimpsers were able to get a chance talk to the students and take pictures. Before our departure, the students sang the glimpsers a couple of songs to greet us goodbye.

Hola mi llamo Isabel! Tutoring is getting better and everybody’s getting used to teaching. One of the groups split up into 3 groups and did a rotation system. Another group taught about the days. For my group we have a kid who is 9 years old and is in the advanced class. She showed us a book that was similar to middle school books. Overall we had a successful day of tutoring.

As leaders of the day, we felt that teamwork and communication is key. We are gracious for the education we receive back at home, but also find the Montessori was a great model for how schools should be teaching students.

By the way, HAPPY BIRTHDAY RACHEL!!

P.S – HEY MICHELLE I MISS YOU GUYS ALOT I’m super excited for soyful when I come home